Steven the Dell guy is effective
 

I forget where I first wrote about the Steven ads, but this is about as appropriate a forum to note... the WSJ today notes that Steven has been really effective for Dell... and they're making MORE Steven ads.

I still say that the only effective Steven ad is the original "Mrs. Lindsay" ad. That one apparently worked SO well that Dell's market share went from 7% at Xmas last year, to 16.5% at Xmas this year. Whoah!

The beauty of that ad wasn't Steven's quirky weirdness, as the ad folks hope, but how it addressed so much in such a short little mini-drama. It addressed the competition. It addressed support. It put the <$1000 price point right out in front of everyone, in a way that told you how to think about it.

The current crop doesn't really do any of that and we will have to see whether they manage to return to form with the next round. The WSJ article tries to put Steven in the same league as the Budweiser frogs. But selling computers isn't like selling beer.

"Dude, you're getting a Dell."
 

Goofy Dell guy exudes star power says USA Today.

But I think he's type-cast. I can't see this guy being able to segue into any other ad acting role.

Maybe he doesn't care. He's probably doin' alright.

Man. I still find him irritating as all hell. I can't get away from him though - I keep the TV off, but he pops up in ads on webpages now. Dammit!

What if the computer companies started calling each other out by name? Like, a new Dell commercial could have Steven saying, "Dude! Don't buy a Compaq!", and then he could give a gnarly speech about why a Dell is better than a Compaq or an Acer or whatever.

Or, Apple could steal him away, and he could be like, "Dude! I've seen the light!" :)

"I'm sorry about telling all you guys to buy those bogus Dell's. With Mac OS X, the Most Advanced Operating System On The Planet, I can burn DVD's, burn CD's, and burn Pentiums, all from the comfort of my flat panel iMac with SuperDrive. It's the most awesome thing I've ever gotten for signing an advertising contract!"

I bet Dell's lawyers would eat him alive.

I would imagine he has one of those no-compete clauses or contracts. Much like I have with 2 of my previous 3 jobs.

Speaking of, I need to request those two contracts. I think I only have the one from OCM. I need the one from the Signal.

I guarantee you he does, especially if he's so effective. Dell wouldn't want anyone stealing their thunder. That's why they're one of two computer companies turning a profit - they can sell a system to anyone. Like Steve Jobs said, "they do it by being Wal-Mart". It's true.

At least we don't see Steven the Quirky WalMart Idiot in commercials though...

Just out of curiosity - why do you need the contracts?

I read them thoroughly when I signed them, but I want to review them to see what exactly I cannot do in a future job.

I have one more year left on the OCM one.

Obviously, the Signal one just started...and that's a 3-year one.

That's probably a good idea. It never hurts to keep the mind refreshed on what exactly you can't do.

I have a copy of mine at work, but it's pretty simple and I don't have to worry about it until I leave SAIC. Hopefully that will be when I retire in 10-20 years. :P

I may need to make some phone calls tomorrow.

I signed one with OCM when I first started with them in 1999. I then moved to CFR, whom OCM bought in early 2000. OCM was bought by Student Advantage this past year. Hmmm...it could be a bit tricky, particularly if I want to work for a college or university.

I was so hoping they would have an available job in Trenton. I was going to apply for it...just to see what they would say. :)

The Signal's should be easier. Given that they are only a representative of an insurance company, I could work around that. Not like I want to work in insurance again anyway.

You guys... you guys...

(Middle Age Man steps out from behind the wall) (Does anyone remember the old SNL skit? Do you have to be a Middle Age Man to remember Middle Age Man?)

The contract doesn't tell you what you can do and what you can't. It tells you what THEY thought they MIGHT want to sue you for, should you ever decide to do it.

Being Them, They tend to put in there every little thing they can ever think of. That's the nature of contracts, and lawyerin'. But the real truth is, some of the things they've put in there, they can't sue you for.

Go to work for a competitor? Before they can do anything about it, they have to find out. After they find out, they may find it not worth their time to bother you. And they may not win, anyway; they can't force you out of work.

Chances are you'd be well served to forget those contracts ever existed. As long as you're not in their face about it, or taking real intellectual property to another company, they probably don't care.

*ponders* Good point. Thanks UT!

What about the EULA or Borland software? Right to enter your house to check licences and wave your right to a jury trial?
Can't do it, but its still in there.

I'd be curious to see that section of the license, jag. I don't have any Borland products to check, myself...

And we now have "me too" posts on the Cellar! :P